Big numbers, not names, for Marathon

The numbers are big, but the names are not. Few elite runners are part of the 1,600 who registered for today's inaugural Manchester City Marathon, set to begin at 8:50 a.m. at Athlete's Village (Veterans' Park) on Elm Street.

"There's a lot of prize money involved," said race technical director Skip Cleaver, "so I expected a lot more interest in terms of elite-type runners, some foreign runners. But we haven't seen that in terms of those who've signed up."

Close to $20,000 will be awarded to the top finishers in the full and half marathons, including $1,500 to the top man and woman in the full marathon. That wasn't enough to attract top names. What might have kept them away? The newness of the event and how quickly registration filled up.

Road races grow in prestige due in part to word of mouth, and with no way to gauge how today's event will play out, the elite might have shied away. And because the race limit of 1,600 was reached early, those who waited until the last minute to sign up were shut out.

Expanding the number of entries was not feasible. Race organizers did not want to run into logistical problems. Making sure they have enough essential items, such as water, food, bathroom facilities, etc., is crucial.

"We would rather serve 1,500, 1,600 well in the first year rather than get overwhelmed," Cleaver said. "We'd rather grow incrementally. It's very difficult to get an event of this size off the ground, so it's a big deal."

Once off the ground, this "big deal" should bring in big names. Not having the big names opens the door for talented local athletes. Two names to watch out for today are Scott Rowe of Dover and Hopkinton's Christin Doneski, said Cleaver.

Rowe is coming off victories in the Swanzey Covered Bridge Half Marathon and the Big Lake (Alton) Half Marathon. He broke the Swanzey record by 42 seconds, winning in 1 hour 9 minutes 8 seconds, more than five minutes ahead of the runner up. He finished the Big Lake course in 1:10:57.

Rowe, 33, also finished 106th (2:38:36) in the Boston Marathon last spring and ran a personal best 2:29:28 in the Chicago Marathon in 2006. Last month in Chicago he walked the last six miles due to extreme heat. Had he run the entire distance he figured the excessive stress on his legs would have made him ill-prepared for Manchester.

But he is prepared, and he'd be happy with a PR today. He was stunned to hear he was a race favorite.

"I'd be surprised (to win)," Rowe said. "I imagine there will be some good runners."

Doneski, who's used to shorter races, didn't imagine she'd be a favorite either. She was the top woman finisher (sixth overall) in the Fox Point Sunset 5-Mile Road Race in Newington in September (31:03). She also finished second (38:28) in the Saunders at Rye Harbor 10K in August.

"I've been trying to lay low," said Doneski, 36. "I'm just going to try the distance. I have no idea what to expect."

Cleaver expects today's overall winner to clock in at around 2:24; the top women's finisher around 2:47. In the half-marathon, Cleaver predicts top times of 1:12 and 1:28 for the men and women, respectively.

Hills make the first half of the full course more difficult. "That's going to slow people down a bit," Cleaver said.

Not Rowe, who said he does well on hilly courses.

The second half of the course is flatter, with only minor rolling hills. "Certainly a lot better," Cleaver said.

For the full-marathon, the second-place man and woman finisher wins $1,000; third-place $750; fourth-place $500; fifth-place $200. The top man and woman finisher in the half-marathon wins $1,000; second-place $500; third-place $300.

Race director Sarah Normand said former gold-medal winning marathoner Joan Benoit, the marathon's featured guest, might run the half-marathon. Normand said it would be a last-minute decision.